TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Special Crimes Directorate of the Jakarta Police has arrested three men who stole money from ATM machines of state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

The three men are identified as AH (44), AS (38), and ARS (35).

Spokesperson of the Jakarta Police Comr. Sr. Awi Setiyono on Sunday (5/6) said that the three men stole money from ATM machines in many places in Jakarta and its surrounding cities including in Tebet, Bekasi, Ciledug, Karawang and some other places.

Awi added that the men stole the money by withdrawing money in a normal way. However, when the ATM machine processed the transaction and the money was about to come out of the machine from the exit money box, the men used a certain device to block and stop the debit process.

"After the money comes out, they checked their saving balance and their money was not deducted," Awi said, adding that the men have managed to steal a total of Rp 537 million from a number of ATM machines.

Upon their arrest, the police confiscated 2 ID cards, 6 cellphones, 1 laptop, 14 ATM cards, 13 saving books, Rp. 65 million in cash, and several other evidence.

The three men are charged with Article 362 of the criminal code and facing a sentence of five years in prison.

INGE KLARA SAFITRI